Post by thesoundmonitor on Jul 5, 2004 4:41:16 GMT -5
Greatdayforup/Solace
Blackmarket /Hammerhead (double EP)
Underdogma)
I can't tell you how excited I was when I got my grubby, unworthy hands on this rare treasure.
I've heard some albums described as slabs of rock, but Solace's two LPs, Further and 13, are more like continental shelves. The breadth, depth and tone of Tommy Southard's guitar puts him in the realm of the greats, and his supporting cast is more than capable of doing him justice.
greatdayforup crept up on us a little with their recent 6 tracker godlovesasinner. Their New-York-meets-Palm-Desert sound and accomplished song writing left us salivating for more.
And then, while the two bands were having some beers together after a recent gig, some bright spark put forward the idea of a split EP. Two seismic forces crashed together, and the ramifications are showing up on Richter scales all across the world.
greatdayforup have the honour of leading off with the first three tracks. 'August, Nineteen Seventy-Nine' is the first song. The precise dual axework of Sunkes and Vitali kicks in immediately, leading a strong mid-tempo opening track.
Track two is a more frantic beast called 'More Than Enough'. Halfway through the chorus gives way to a powerful bridge, then breaks down to a brief bass segue, before the whole thing is reconstructed, with some exquisite solo work laid over the top. An absolute belter.
The third track takes up from where the last track on godlovesasinner left off. It's a slower, doom-inspired song called 'Soul of a Motherfucker'. A menacing, monstrous work, it is at once crushing and uplifting. It's a song that you can immerse yourself in, but be careful, you may never want to resurface: “Like a drowning man, I bring you down, praying to the god of the sea.”<br>
While many of the riffs seem straightforward at first, the subtle variations between the two guitarists give the sound a certain richness and depth that indicate their ever-growing confidence and professionalism. Moreover, the band's ability to forge meaningful (and often inspired) songs from these molten metal components marks them as a rising force in modern music.
And then there's Solace!
Their ability to dust off cover songs from the Vaults of Relative Obscurity and lift them to new heights was shown on 13, where they covered Agnostic Front and Pentagram.
They're at it again here, with two songs I have to own up to never having heard before. 'Hammerhead' was originally done by early 70s prog-rockers Rare Bird, featuring some great Manowar-style descriptions of medieval battlefields. It gives vocalist Jason the perfect opportunity to let his voice soar. The last track is a new take on a Link Wray song called 'Rumble', and damn it sounds fine, especially the trance inducing dual solo work that finishes off the song.
The original track, 'Cement Stitches', represents a bit of a new direction for Solace. It's much quicker and more aggressive than you might expect, showing that the hardcore/stoner cross-pollination might be catching on. And, just as you would expect, they pull it off with aplomb.
Overall, the things that have always made Solace a great band are still here in force, and the reputation they have built up is further enhanced by these three tracks.
So there it is. A release that somehow exceeds the expectations created by the coming together of these two highly regarded, incredibly talented bands.
A must have.
By Matt Harris
Blackmarket /Hammerhead (double EP)
Underdogma)
I can't tell you how excited I was when I got my grubby, unworthy hands on this rare treasure.
I've heard some albums described as slabs of rock, but Solace's two LPs, Further and 13, are more like continental shelves. The breadth, depth and tone of Tommy Southard's guitar puts him in the realm of the greats, and his supporting cast is more than capable of doing him justice.
greatdayforup crept up on us a little with their recent 6 tracker godlovesasinner. Their New-York-meets-Palm-Desert sound and accomplished song writing left us salivating for more.
And then, while the two bands were having some beers together after a recent gig, some bright spark put forward the idea of a split EP. Two seismic forces crashed together, and the ramifications are showing up on Richter scales all across the world.
greatdayforup have the honour of leading off with the first three tracks. 'August, Nineteen Seventy-Nine' is the first song. The precise dual axework of Sunkes and Vitali kicks in immediately, leading a strong mid-tempo opening track.
Track two is a more frantic beast called 'More Than Enough'. Halfway through the chorus gives way to a powerful bridge, then breaks down to a brief bass segue, before the whole thing is reconstructed, with some exquisite solo work laid over the top. An absolute belter.
The third track takes up from where the last track on godlovesasinner left off. It's a slower, doom-inspired song called 'Soul of a Motherfucker'. A menacing, monstrous work, it is at once crushing and uplifting. It's a song that you can immerse yourself in, but be careful, you may never want to resurface: “Like a drowning man, I bring you down, praying to the god of the sea.”<br>
While many of the riffs seem straightforward at first, the subtle variations between the two guitarists give the sound a certain richness and depth that indicate their ever-growing confidence and professionalism. Moreover, the band's ability to forge meaningful (and often inspired) songs from these molten metal components marks them as a rising force in modern music.
And then there's Solace!
Their ability to dust off cover songs from the Vaults of Relative Obscurity and lift them to new heights was shown on 13, where they covered Agnostic Front and Pentagram.
They're at it again here, with two songs I have to own up to never having heard before. 'Hammerhead' was originally done by early 70s prog-rockers Rare Bird, featuring some great Manowar-style descriptions of medieval battlefields. It gives vocalist Jason the perfect opportunity to let his voice soar. The last track is a new take on a Link Wray song called 'Rumble', and damn it sounds fine, especially the trance inducing dual solo work that finishes off the song.
The original track, 'Cement Stitches', represents a bit of a new direction for Solace. It's much quicker and more aggressive than you might expect, showing that the hardcore/stoner cross-pollination might be catching on. And, just as you would expect, they pull it off with aplomb.
Overall, the things that have always made Solace a great band are still here in force, and the reputation they have built up is further enhanced by these three tracks.
So there it is. A release that somehow exceeds the expectations created by the coming together of these two highly regarded, incredibly talented bands.
A must have.
By Matt Harris